Articulated multiple buoy marine platform apparatus

Abstract

A marine platform provides a plurality of buoys, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and an articulating connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A marine platform, comprising: 
       a) a plurality of individual buoys;  
       b) a platform structure having an oil and gas well, producing facility and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions one connecting position for each bouy;  
       c) a plurality of articulating connections, including a different articulating connection connecting each buoy to the platform at a respective connecting position, each articulating connection allowing for buoy motions induced by sea movement between a buoy and the platform structure while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and  
       wherein the separate articulating connections enable movement of each one of the buoys relative to the platform structure so that axial and tangential forces between the platform and each buoy is transmitted, while transfer of bending movement is reduced or minimized.  
     
     
       2. The marine platform of  claim 1  further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location. 
     
     
       3. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein the articulating connections are universal joints. 
     
     
       4. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each of the articulating connections includes correspondingly concave and convex portions. 
     
     
       5. The marine platform of  claim 4  wherein at least one buoy has a convex articulating portion and the platform has at least one concave articulating portion, the at least one convex articulating portion and the at least one concave articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       6. The marine platform of  claim 4  wherein at least one buoy has a concave articulating portion and the platform has at least one convex articulating portion, the at least one concave articulating portion and the at least one convex articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       7. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter. 
     
     
       8. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions. 
     
     
       9. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions. 
     
     
       10. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein there are between 3 and 8 connecting positions. 
     
     
       11. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck. 
     
     
       12. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members, and wherein the connecting positions are next to the lower horizontal members. 
     
     
       13. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height. 
     
     
       14. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter. 
     
     
       15. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length. 
     
     
       16. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       17. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein at least one articulated connection is comprised of a buoy with a hemispherically shaped upper end and a correspondingly shaped concave receptacle on the platform that fits the hemispherically shaped upper end. 
     
     
       18. The marine platform of  claim 1  wherein the buoys support a platform that weighs between 500 and 100,000 tons. 
     
     
       19. A marine platform, comprising: 
       a) a plurality of individual buoys;  
       b) a platform superstructure having an oil and gas well producing facility weighing between 500 tons and 100,000 tons and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy;  
       c) a plurality of articulating connections, a separate articulating connections connecting each buoy to the platform superstructure at a respective connecting position, the plurality of articulating connections allowing for buoy motions induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform superstructure; and  
       d) wherein each articulating connection is a separate joint movably connecting a buoy to the platform superstructure, and wherein axial and tangential forces are substantially transmitted without transfer of substantial bending movement, allowing relative movement between each buoy and the superstructure.  
     
     
       20. The marine platform of  claim 18  further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location. 
     
     
       21. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein the articulating connections are universal joints. 
     
     
       22. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each of the articulating connections includes correspondingly concave and convex engaging portions. 
     
     
       23. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein at least one buoy has a convex articulating portion and the platform has at least one concave articulating portion, the at least one convex articulating portion and the at least one concave articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       24. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein at least one buoy has a concave. articulating portion and the platform has at least one convex articulating portion, the at least one concave articulating portion and the at least one convex articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       25. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter. 
     
     
       26. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions. 
     
     
       27. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions. 
     
     
       28. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck. 
     
     
       29. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members, and wherein the connecting positions are next to the lower horizontal members. 
     
     
       30. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height. 
     
     
       31. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter. 
     
     
       32. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length. 
     
     
       33. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       34. The marine platform of  claim 19  wherein at least one articulated connection is comprised of a buoy with a hemispherically shaped upper end and a correspondinly shaped concave receptacle on the platform that fits the hemispherically shaped upper end. 
     
     
       35. A marine platform, comprising: 
       a) a plurality of individual buoys;  
       b) a platform superstructure having an oil and gas well producing facility and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy;  
       c) a plurality of articulating connections, one of the articulating connections connecting a said individual buoy to the platform superstructure at a respective connecting position, each articulating connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform superstructure; and  
       d) wherein each articulating connection is a separate joint movably connecting a said buoy to the platform superstructure, and wherein axial and tangential forces are substantially transmitted without transfer of substantial bending moment, allowing relative movement between each buoy and the superstructure.  
     
     
       36. The marine platform of  claim 35  further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location. 
     
     
       37. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein the articulating connections are universal joints. 
     
     
       38. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each of the articulating connections includes correspondingly concave and convex engaging portions. 
     
     
       39. The marine platform of  claim 38  wherein at least one buoy has a convex articulating portion and the platform has at least one concave articulating portion, the at least one convex articulating portion and the at least one concave articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       40. The marine platform of  claim 38  wherein at least one buoy has a concave articulating portion and the platform has at least one convex articulating portion, the at least one concave articulating portion and the at least one convex articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       41. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter. 
     
     
       42. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions. 
     
     
       43. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions. four connecting positions. 
     
     
       44. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein there are between 3 and 8 connecting positions. 
     
     
       45. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck. 
     
     
       46. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members, and wherein the connecting positions are next to the lower horizontal members. 
     
     
       47. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height. 
     
     
       48. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter. 
     
     
       49. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length. 
     
     
       50. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       51. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein at least one articulated connection is comprised of a buoy with a hemispherically shaped upper end and a correspondingly shaped concave receptacle on the platform that fits the hemispherically shaped upper end. 
     
     
       52. The marine platform of  claim 35  wherein the buoys support a platform that weighs between 500 and 100,000 tons. 
     
     
       53. A marine platform, comprising: 
       a) a plurality of individual buoys;  
       b) a platform superstructure that includes an oil and gas well producing facility weighing between 500 tons and 100,000 tons and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy;  
       c) a plurality of articulating connections, respective articulating connections connecting the plurality of buoys to the platform at different respective connecting positions, the plurality of articulating connections allowing for buoy motions induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and  
       d) wherein each articulating connection is a separate joint movably connecting a said buoy to the platform superstructure, and wherein axial and tangential forces are substantially transmitted without transfer of substantial bending moment, allowing relative movement between each buoy and the superstructure.  
     
     
       54. The marine platform of  claim 53  further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location. 
     
     
       55. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein the articulating connections are universal joints. 
     
     
       56. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each of the articulating connections includes correspondingly concave and convex engaging portions. 
     
     
       57. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein at least one buoy has a convex articulating portion and the platform has at least one concave articulating portion, the at least one convex articulating portion and the at least one concave articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       58. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein at least one buoy has a concave articulating portion and the platform has at least one convex articulating portion, the at least one concave articulating portion and the at least one convex articulating portion forming at least one articulating connection of the plurality of articulating connections. 
     
     
       59. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter. 
     
     
       60. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions. 
     
     
       61. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions. 
     
     
       62. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck. 
     
     
       63. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members, and wherein the connecting positions are next to the lower horizontal members. 
     
     
       64. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height. 
     
     
       65. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter. 
     
     
       66. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length. 
     
     
       67. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       68. The marine platform of  claim 53  wherein at least one articulated connection is comprised of a buoy with a hemispherically shaped upper end and a correspondingly shaped cave receptacle on the platform that fits the hemispherically shaped upper end.